Brennen Dayton, Dan Snyder Named Team Captains for 2007 Season

Senior Brennen Dayton from Uniontown and junior Dan Snyder from Shelocta will begin duties as the baseball team’s captains for the 2007 season.

“Our captains are chosen with a team vote, so their selection is a result of their peers’ respect,” said IUP head coach Jeff Ditch.  “These two young men will do a great job with the responsibilities of being team captains.”

Dayton (right), a 6-1, 190-pound catcher, was the team’s second leading hitter in 2006 with a .322 batting average.  Prior to IUP, he played two years at Potomac State Junior College in West Virginia and participated in two NJCAA World Series events. 

“Brennen has done a great job behind the plate his entire career,” commented Ditch.  “He has always been a strong defensive catcher and that is what we expected when he came from Potomac State.  But last year we saw what he can do with the bat too.”

He is majoring in health and physical education.

Snyder (left) is a 6-1, 190-pound righthanded pitcher.  In his first two seasons at IUP, Snyder has pitched 31 innings and has posted 26 strikeouts.  He is a safety science major who is also an IUP Baseball “WINwithCLASS” academic team captain and member of the IUP Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

“Dan is a local player who knows what it takes to be successful at IUP both on and off the field.  He will be able to provide great leadership to our younger players,” added Ditch.  “Our captains know how important their roles will be in helping attain goals and expectations.”

The team continues to prepare for the 2007 season which opens Saturday, February 24, in Charleston, W.Va., versus West Chester and West Virginia State.